FA quiz Eriksson again

The Football Association were forced to seek further reassurances from Sven Goran Eriksson yesterday over his links with Chelsea's new owner Roman Abramovich.

The England manager was interrupted while holidaying aboard a yacht in the Mediterranean by a phone call from a senior FA official who quizzed him about his ongoing relationship with the Russian billionaire.

As Sportsmail revealed yesterday, Chelsea's surprise interest in signing Juan Sebastian Veron from Manchester United for £14million had sparked new speculation over Eriksson's future.

Eriksson's regard for Veron, who was deemed by many to have been a failure in his two years at Old Trafford, raised suspicions that he may be advising Abramovich on his transfer policy and prompted the FA to contact the Swede again.

Soho Square officials have already issued one statement on Eriksson's behalf, admitting that their coach met Abramovich two weeks ago but saying that his relationship with the new owner of Chelsea was a 'purely social' one.

Eriksson, whose £2.5million London home was burgled at the weekend while he was on holiday, is understood to have once again staunchly refuted any wrongdoing.

FA are coming under increasing pressure from Premiership clubs who are concerned about the exact nature of Eriksson's links with Abramovich and the possible repercussions these could have on the game in this country.

There is also thought to be some disquiet among members of the FA's international committee about this latest episode, though there is no suggestion that Eriksson's job is under threat.

The general consensus among FA powerbrokers, though, is that despite the photographs which captured Eriksson entering the Russian's house, there is no proof of anything untoward in the relationship between the England boss and Abramovich.

Furthermore, Eriksson's record in competitive matches since taking up the job in February 2001, only one defeat and that to World Cup winners Brazil, counterbalances any claims of misplaced loyalty.

The new FA chief executive, Mark Palios, did not feel it necessary to speak personally with Eriksson on this occasion and instead left it to a colleague whose relationship with the coach is much more established.

Meanwhile, Gerard Houllier has sought to personally underline Liverpool's insistence that Steven Gerrard is not for sale at any price. Chelsea's interest in the England midfielder fuelled speculation that Eriksson was dictating their transfer policy.

But Anfield boss Houllier, currently in Switzerland training with his squad, said: 'He's happy at Liverpool and doesn't want to play for anyone else. 'Steven is progressing all the time and this is the club for him.'

Initially Liverpool issued a terse statement saying Gerrard was not for sale. Now Houllier, just a few days after landing Harry Kewell for £5m from Leeds, has gone on the record in a bid to end the speculation.

Houllier, talking to Liverpool's website, www.liverpoolfc.tv, said: 'Steven is a player who is central to my long-term plans.' Gerrard has only two years of his contract remaining but there have been promises from Anfield that they will soon enter into negotiations for a new deal.